Fire-escape



s. M. LYLE.

15 Q\ Sarah Mlg A TTORNEY.

v j Y SARAH MfLYLE, or Barpenmnnomo.

rien-ESCAPE.

V` Specification of Lettersflatent.

Patented Nov. 223', 1921.

Application ,filed January 5, 1321. Serialk No. 435,197,

Be itknown that I, SARAH. M. Lynn, a citizen of the United vStates. residing at Bridgeport, in the county ol Belmont and State olu'Ohio, have .invented certain new and useful Improvements in Firediscapcs, Y

or which the following isa'speciiication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to fire escapes and has 'for its object to provide a device ot 'this character capable of being stored within the room of a building in such a position that it y is always ready for use. A

Another object is to provide a device of this character adapted to be disposed within a compartment formed in the sill portion ot a window casing and operated from said casing. 1

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which can be readily concealed beneath the window sill within a compartment formed therein and may be readily reached for use by swinging the window sill portion inwardly ot the room and removing the fire escape from the compartment and hanging the saine over the window sill, the fire escape being supported by means disposed within the compartment.

A still further object of the invention is to i provide a fire escape of this character which can be adjusted when applied according to the distance from the window to the ground so as to prevent injury to the person using the fire escape by coming suddenly in contact with the ground.

A still further object oi the invention is to provide a device ot this character which may not only be regulated so as to reach the limit of its movement before coming` in contact with the ground, but wherein means are provided forcontrolling the speed ot descent of the person using the lire escape.

lVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more particularly described, fully claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of a window casing showing in dotted lines the lire escape disposedwithin a compartment carried by the window casing,

F ig. 2 is an elevation of a window casing showing the lire escape extending rfrom the'- compartmen-t, v and Fig. 3 isa section taken on theline 3-3 of j F ig. 2. e i

Referring ,to the drawings, 5 designates a conventional `form of window casing including stiles, 6 land the sill 7 The lower portion 8 or each oi' the l yond the sill 7, while connected to the portion 8 is a casing including sides 9 and abottom 10. The sill 7 ,is hinged as at 11 to the,

inner side member S) ofk the `casing, and `is intended to be swung inwardlyo the `room so as to open the compartment. When the sill is in its closed position, it operates `in the well known mannerto support or engage the lower sash.

' Disposed within the compartment, is a pair oi pulleys 12,'said pulleys having a swivel connection 4with eyes 13 projecting from the portions 8 of the Stiles within 'the compartment. By supporting the pulleys through the medium of the eyes, resistance is overcome to a great extent and the pulleys permitted to adjust themselves to all conditions. Engaged with the pulleys 12, is

a cable 14, said cable being of a length to eX- tend from the window to the ground when doubled. The ends of the cable are provided with stirrups 15 formed by looping the ends of the cable, the stirrups being held in spaced relation by means of a rod16 which is connected at its ends to the end portions of the cable. By this means, either the stirrups 15 or the rod 16 can be usedto support the person using the re escape. the stirrups 15 performing an additional function ot preventing accidental disengagement of the rod 16 from the ends of the cable. With this construction, when the intermediate portion of the cable 14 reaches the pulleys, the fire escape is disposed at the limit of its movement and is positioned' a sufficient distance from the ground to permit the user to step from the rod or stirrupV `stiles 6 is extended bey vided an auxiliary or controlling cable 17. This cable is connected at one end to theV inrtermediate portion of the cable 14:, the cable 17 being provided with a seriesof knots'l which permits a firm hold to'be obtained on the cable without danger of slipping.

i opposite end of the cable is provided with end portions are intended to move down-` 25.

` erly positioned on the fire escape,

avloop 19 so Vas to permit ing on the ground to control the descent of the user of the fire escape, if'desired.

ln the use of the device, the entire fire escape includingthe con'trollingcable 17 is placed in the compartment formed in the sill portion of the: window casing, vand the sill 7 extended over the compartment to thereby conceal the fireescape. In case of fire, it isonly necessary to raise the window,

swing the 'sill inwardly ofthe'room, and throw thecable 17 out of the window. The user then' inserts his feetinto the stirrups 15, or positions himself oir-the rod 16. VVhenthe lire escape is thus positioned, the cable 14 is doubled, that is'` the stirru'p `or wardly while the bight portionis intended to move upwardly.k After the user is prop,V

the upwardly and downwardly movable portions of the cable 14 are grasped so: as 4to control the descent'.` After the intermediate portion of the cable v141 passesthe bar 16 andstir rups 15 onits upward movement, the descent The a person standn prismg a can be controlled by grasping*V the oontrolling cable 17. When the intermediate portion of the cable reaches the compartment,

vthe fire lescape is then disposed at the limit of its movement and the person may readily step from the lire escape on to the ground.

.The fire escape may then be returned byl means ofthe cable 17 to the compartment to `receive a second passenger if necessary.

By the use of vthisY novel compartment,V

the tire escape canfbe placed so that it is always in convenient reach and yet'is not unsightly as it is concealed within the com- Vln addition to this oneof these partment-` be applied to Veach `window fire escapes can Vof the building so that Ydanger. of panic mediate portion Vof the cable and the rod being adapted to alternate in limiting move. ment of the cable.

In testimony whereof l hereuntoY afjx my signature.

VSARAH M. LYL-E. 

